Our new neighbor in the garden is a Black and Yellow Garden spider (Argiope aurantia). She can eat bugs that are twice her size. Just to let you see how big she is here is a picture of her near my thumb...

She is a beneficial garden spider built for getting rid of pests. Her venom doesn't harm humans. Her bite is like getting stung by a wasp. I probably should have looked that up before the picture was taken.

I was careful NOT to disturb the web for the photo, We saw her almost go after a flying bug but she decided against it.